50 Thousands People Marooned as Flood Situation Worsened in Rangpur

Due to severe rains and an influx of water from upstream, the flood situation in Rangpur's district intensified on Saturday, leaving some 50,000 people stranded.

At 6am on Saturday, the Teesta River was running 10 cm above the danger level at Dalia point and 33 cm above the danger level at Kaunia point in Rangpur, according to sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) control room.

As water invaded 40 char region villages in Rangpur's Kaunia and Gangachra upazilas, hundreds of people have been left stranded. According to residents, homes are three to four feet under water. 

Along with that, croplands have been submerged. People who got stranded in the water have left their homes and taken shelter on higher ground and BWDB dykes. 

Meanwhile, houses in 25 villages in the char area of Gangachara upazila are still submerged in two to two and a half feet of water due to the rise of the Teesta River.

The inundated areas are Alambiditar, 15 villages of Lottery and Nohali unions along with Dhusmarar Char, Azam Khan Char, Haibat Khan Gonai, Pallimari, Ekta Char Milanbazar, Gopikalla, Dalar Char Char Godai of Kaunia Upazila. 

The inhabitants in distant char regions have been urged to seek refuge in shelters because Teesta water levels may rise, according to Rangpur BWDB Executive Engineer Rabiul Islam. 

According to the official, all of India's Gajoldoba barrage's gates were unannounced opened due to the increased flow of water from upstream India on Friday evening, which caused the Teesta on the Bangladesh side to rise.

On Saturday, the Teesta barrage's 44 gates were all opened.

According to the official, water continues to reach the nearby settlements that are situated along the banks of the Teesta River because of its powerful flow.